Reciprocating engine.



Patented Feb; 25, [902.

0. c. PBOTHEROE; REfilPROGATlNG ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 9, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOI? WITNESSES "0. 594,076. Patented FBI]. 25, 1902-.

I G. 6. ,PBUTHERUE.

RECIPROCATING ENGINE.

(Aiaplicltion and. Nov, 9, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 SheeftQ-Shhtf.

THE Nomus PETERspu, Puow-umu. WASHINGTON, D, c.

NrTEo STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. PROTHEROE, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECIPROCATING ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 694,076, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed November 9, 1899. Serial 110.736.39 1 (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern: 1

Be it known thatI, CHARLES C. PROTHEROE,

of Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reciprocating Engines, of which the annexed is a specification.

My invention consists in combining with the reciprocating piston-rod of a reciprocating en gine a ball-bearing, such ball-bearing consisting of two or more balls which, in combination with the cylinder, support andguide' the piston-rod in its reciprocating movements and atthe same time serve to reduce friction at the cross-head, of guideways in the pistonrod and supporting the balls of my hearing in contact with the piston-rod, wherein plane surfaces only contact with the balls, and, further, of means for adjusting the position of the balls simultaneously and uniformly with reference to the longitudinal axis of the reciprocating member and in the various other combinations set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section showing my ball-bearing slide in combination with the piston-rod of a horizontal reciprocating engine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the ball-bearin g through the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing one form of adj usting-screws; and Fig. 3shows another form of adjusting-screws with their collars.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents the engine-cylinder, B the piston-rod, O the cross-head with ball-bearing slide, D the pitman, E the crank, and F the crank-shaft, which may be of the usual and ordinary construction.

Upon the engine-bed N is the raised platform 0, of suitable width and length to serve as a support for the ball-bearing slide. This platform 0 may form a part of bed N, or it may be secured thereto or supported by other suitable means.

I provide two guideways a and b, which rest upon the platform 0, as shown. These guideways are retained by inverted- U -shaped holders c 0, one at each end of the guideways CL and b, Fig. 1, and they serve to hold the guideways firmly against the platform 0. The

holders 0 c are secured to the platform 0 by set-screws 7c 76 and k 7a or by any suitable means. The guideways a and b are thus permitted a motion toward and awayfrom each other, while atthe same time firmly seated upon platform 0. Othcrsuitable means may be employed to seat the guideways which will permit of the desired movement. The pistonpasses between the guideways a and b, and its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel thereto. I

In each guideway a and b is cut a groove formed by the plane faces Z and Z, respectively. These faces are inclined at about ninety degrees to each other, respectively, and they are each inclined atabout forty-five degrees to the surfaceof platform 0, as shown. They extend the entire length of their respective guideways. In the enlarged part at of piston-rod B are out similar grooves, one upon each side, as shown, formed by the plane faces 8 and s, respectively, the planes of which are each parallel to the longitudinal axis of the piston-rod. These grooves each extend the entire length of the part cl. They are upon opposite sides of the piston-rod, as shown, and when retained in position, as hereinafter described, by the balls 6 and f plane faces Z and s will be at all times substantially parallel to each other as piston-rod B reciprocates, as will also plane faces l and 3. Two balls 6 and f, preferably of hardened steel, are placed between the faces, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus faces ll'ss at one side of piston B retain ball 6 and corresponding faces Z Z s s at the other side retain ballf. By such construction each ball bears against four plane surfaces. These four bearing-points are substantially in a vertical plane ninety degrees, or thereabout, removed from each other, respectively, as shown.

h h are right and left threaded screws retained by collars on the sides of each of the holders 0 c, as shown, and geared together by bevel-gears i 'ijj and shaft g, suitably supported on one side of holders 0 c, Fig. 2. The shaft g is also provided with a hand-wheel it. Right and left threaded screws h h pass through guideways a and b, which are thread ed to receive them. It will be obvious that by turning hand-wheel it through the gear connection screws h h, acting together, will cause guideways a b to approach or recede rod B is enlarged at d, as shown, where it from each other as desired and that faeesl Z of the guideways will advance balls 6 and f radially toward the longitudinal axis of piston-rod B. The advance of the balls toward the longitudinal axis of the piston by the mutual approach of the guideways at each end thereof above described will be uniform and will-furnish ready adjustment for the ballbearing, while aiding to retain the accurate adjustment of the piston-rod and also pre vent the rotation of the piston-rod.

In Fig. 2 is shown plate g at the end of the guideway b. This has been removed from guideway Ct to show internal construction. I secure such a stop-plate as g at each end of each guideway a b to prevent the escape of either ball 6 or f from its guideways. Obviously stop q may be constructed in various shapes and secured to the guideways a or b in different modes. The construction here shown is simple and aids in the assembling of parts. Set-screws r 1- hold plate q in place. The plate (1 may be secured in position after the balls have been placed between their respective guideways. In Fig. 2 are also shown stops t, secured at the end of the right-hand groove in the piston-rod, as shown. stop has been removed from the left-hand groove in that figure to show internal construction. I place such a stop as t at each end of each groove of the piston-rod. They serve to compel the assembling of the balls in substantially the same plane transversely to the path of the piston-rod at each end of each stroke, as hereinafter described. Obviously they may be of various shapes and secured to the piston-rod in different modes. They are arranged to pass freely between the guideways a b with their stops q, as shown.

Instead of enlarging the piston-rod where it passes between the guideways in constructing the grooves formed by faces 3 and 5 these grooves may be cut into the rod itself.

The operation of the device is as follows: In Fig. 1 I have shown the engine at midstroke, with. crank-arm E at the highest point of elevation moving over from left to right, as shown by the arrow. In Fig. 2 I have drawn the dotted broken lines 00 at, y 3 and 2 2", each passing through the center of ball e, to represent the several axes upon which that ball may be caused to revolve in the operation of the device,as hereinafter described. It will be obvious that with a horizontal engine such as here shown the piston-rod B rests by its weight in a direction vertically downward upon both balls 6 and f and that in the absence of other forces operating to alter this condition as the piston-rod reciprocates balls andf will be rolled by faces .9 of the piston against faces Z of the guideways CL and b, and they will thus be in contact with and roll along both faces, and that the ball e, for instance, will therefore be caused to revolve substantially upon the line y y as an axis. So long as the preponderance of pressure in the operation of the engine is verti- Thiscally downward substantially this same condition will continue. Thus the distance traveled by ball 6, for instance, at the point of contact with face 5 will be substantially the same as the distance traveled by the opposite point of that ball in cont-act'with face 1-. By this means substantially no slipping of ball'e is permitted. Should the preponderance of pressure he at any time in the operation of the engine vertically upward from any cause, it will be obvious that balls e and f will be rolled by faces 3 of the PlStOIld'Od against faces l of the guideways, thus revolving substantially on the line cc 0: as an axis. and there will again be substantially an absence of slipping of the ball in its contact with either face. Should now the force generated in the operation of the device result in a preponderance of pressure in either direction laterally, then it will be obvious that ball e, for instance, should the lateral pressure bear against that ball,would be rolled by faces 5 and 5' against facesland Z substantiallyupon the line .2 a as an axis and that the distances traveled by ball 6 at its points of contact with faces .9 and s will be substantially the same as the distances traveled by the opposite points of that ball in contact with faces Z and Z, and there Will be again substantially an absence of slipping of the ball in its contact with all four faces. \Vhere, as just described, a preponderance of pressure is exerted upon the ball 0, ball f will be partially relieved from pressure and may be found to be loose and to lag behind. This loose ball will then be rolled or slid along by one of the stops (5 of the piston-rod as it reciprocates in order that the balls may be found in substantially the same plane transversely to the longitudinal axis of the piston-rod at each end of each stroke thereof. By this means the balls are always ready in position to begin a new stroke at the termination of the preceding stroke. If now in the position shown in Fig. 1 the pressure upon the balls be either vertically downward or upward, as the piston-rod advances from mid-stroke to the end of its stroke it will roll the balls 6 and f toward the righthand end of the guideways. If, however, the pressure he lateral upon either ball, as the piston-rod advances that ball which receives the pressure will be rolled positively by the piston-rod to the right-hand end of its guideways and the loose ball will be positively pushed or slid by the step t of the piston-rod also to the right-hand end of its guideways, where they meet stops q. Again,on the stroke from right to left,whether the pressure be upward, downward, or lateral, the balls will be rolled from the right toward the left along the guideways by the positive action of the piston-rod or by stops t to the left-hand end of their guideways, where they again meet stops q. The path of each ball is about onehalf the length of the stroke of the piston-rod. 3

The length of the guideways, as well as the length of the enlarged part (Z of the piston rod, is therefore to be arranged in view of the path of the ball and of its diameter, and I find that the better construction is one which provides sufficient length in guideways a and b that the balls may be rolled in each'direction without being brought into actual con tact with stops g at either end thereof. By proper use of adj Listing-screws h h practically all slipping of the balls in-their contact either with the piston-rod or with guideways a b may be prevented and rolling friction provided to receive pressures at the crosshead substantially at all times. In combination with the cylinder my ball-bearing slide supports the piston-rod in its movements. Obviously more than two balls maybe used in the device surrounding the piston-rod and provided with their respective guideways in the piston-rod and for the support .of each ball, and these guidewaysmay each be provided with plane surfaces for contact with theballs. v

In Fig. 3 I show another means of adjustment whereby the pressure of each ball against the piston-rod is independently regulated. In that fi ure his an ad 'nstin '-screw Z3 3 e] b 9 shown at the upper side of one end of guideway a. It is to be understood that two such screws are placed at each side of inverted- U shaped holders 0 and c at top and bottom, respectively. They are threaded in part where they pass through theholders cc, which latter are threaded to receive them, and they are smooth where they pass through guideways a or b. Two collars l and 2 are securedat the ends of the smooth part of each adj usting-sc'rew externally guideways a and b, respectively, and in close proximity thereto. They serve to compel the motion of guideway a or 1) toward or away from the piston-rod when the set-screws are turned. to is a hand-wheel placed at the end of each screw to enable them to be turned readily. Thus it will be obvious that either end of either guideway aorb may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the piston-rod and the pressure of ball 6 or f. regulated. The proper adjustment of piston-rod may also thus be regulated.

In Fig. 2 are shown in section plates m, secured by set-screws n to faces Z and Z of guideways a and b, respectively. Plates m, preferably of hardened steel, are placed in the position shown between the hardened ball and the softer material of the guideways to receive any impact of the balls and to afford greater resistance to wear and tear, thereby tending to preserve proper alinement of the parts. They extend throughout the length of facesll, respectively, and are of uniform width and thickness. Secured by setscrews 19 tofaces s and s, respectively, of piston-rod B are similar hardened plates 0. Plates 0 extend throughout the length of faces 8 s, respectively. These latter serve the same purpose as plates m, above described. Either may be renewed when desired. Any other means may be employed to preserve the surfaces of faces Z-, Z, s, and s which will accomplish the desired object.

The device may obviously bev applied to other reciprocating'rods provided with such operatingto positively move the balls of said bearing over a path of definite extent corresponding to that of the path of said piston-rod, means for independently regulating the pressure between each of the ballsof said bear- :ing and said piston-rod, and means operated by said piston-rod for converting the'reciproeating motion thereof into rotary motion, sub- .stantially as described.

2. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and itspiston-rod of'av 1 ball-bearing for said piston-rod, means for'si- 'multaneously and uniformly adjusting "the pressure between the balls of said bearing and said piston-rod and means operated by said piston-rod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating-engine and its piston-rod of balls in contact with said piston-rod, ways or guides respectively supporting said balls in said contact, means for simultaneously. and uniformly adjusting said ways or guides nearer to or farther from said piston-rod, a pi'tman connected to said piston-rod and a crank-arm and crank-shaft connected to and adapted to be operated by said pitman, substantially-as described.

4. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and its piston-rod of balls in contact with said piston-rod, ways or guides borne by said piston-rod receiving said balls, means supporting said balls in said contact, means for independently regulating the pressure between each of said balls and said pistonrod, means actuated by said piston-rod and constructed and operating to positively move the balls of said bearing over a path of definite extent corresponding to that of the path of said piston-rod and means operated by said i piston-rod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the cylinder of. a reciprocating engine and its piston-rod of balls in contact with said piston-rod, ways or guides borne by said piston-rod receiving said balls,

ways or guides respectively supporting said.

balls in said contact, means for adjusting said last named ways or guides nearer to or farther from said piston-rod and means operated by said piston-rod, means actuated by said piston-rod and constructed and operating to &

"in contact with said piston-rod, ways or guides substantially parallel to the path of and borne by said piston-rod receiving said balls, ways or guides respectively supporting said balls in said contact, means for simultaneously and uniformly adjusting said last-named Ways or guides nearer to or farther from said pistonrod, means actuated by said piston-rod and constructed and operating to positively move the balls of said bearing over a path of detlnite extent corresponding to that of the path of said piston-rod and means operated by said piston-rod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and its piston-rod of ways or guides borne by said piston-rod, plane surfaces parallel to the path of reciprocation of said piston-rod on the ways or guides there of for contact with the balls, balls in contact therewith, means supporting said balls in said contact and means operated by said pistonrod, means actuated by said piston-rod and constructed and operating to positively move the balls of said bearing overapathof definite extent corresponding to that-of the path of said piston-rod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and its piston rod of ways or guides borne by said piston-rod, plane surfaces parallel to the path of reciprocation of said piston-rod on the ways or guides thereof for contact with the balls, balls in contact therewith, ways or guides respectively supporting said balls in said contact, plane surfaces on said last-named ways or guides substantially parallel to the path of reciprocation of the piston-rod for contact with said balls, means for adjusting said last-named Ways or guides nearer to or farther from said piston-rod and means operated by said piston-rod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and its piston-rod, ways or guides borne by said piston-rod, plane surfaces parallel to the path of reciprocation of said piston-rod on said ways or guides for contact with the balls, balls in contact therewith, ways or guides respectively supporting said balls in said contact, plane surfaces on said last-named ways substantially parallel to the path of reciprocation of said piston-rod for contact with said balls, means for simultaneously and uniformly adjusting said lastnamed ways nearer to or farther from said piston-rod and means operated by said pistonrod for converting the reciprocating motion thereof into rotary motion, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and its piston-rod B, of faces 5, 3, plates 0, 0, secured thereon, ball 6, faces Z, Z, plates m, m secured thereon, guideway a, means sustaining said guidcway in supporting said ball against said rod and means of adjusting said guideway nearer to or farther from said rod, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

CHAS. O. PROTHEROE.

Witnesses:

JOHN TOBIN, JAMES G. K. LEE. 

